BATAM – Welcoming the 81st Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, Class IIA Batam Penitentiary (Lapas) officially opened the Inmates' Sports Week (Porsenap) on Friday (31/7/2026). This activity is designed not only to celebrate Independence Day, but also as an important part of personality development for the inmates.
The lively opening ceremony in the main yard of Batam Prison was led directly by the Warden of Batam Prison, Yosafat Rizanto. The opening of Porsenap was marked by the release of balloons into the air, which was welcomed with loud applause and high enthusiasm from the inmates representing each residential block.
In his speech, Yosafat Rizanto stated that sports are an effective medium to cultivate sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork among inmates. He emphasized that the main essence of this competition is not merely seeking victory, but fostering a sense of togetherness for positive behavioral change.
A total of six sports are being contested in this year's Porsenap, including futsal, volleyball, badminton, sepak takraw, chess, and dominoes. To ensure smoothness and order, the entire series of matches is being held gradually under the strict supervision of prison officers.
In addition to opening the sports competition, the Warden of Batam Prison also reminded the inmates about the upcoming general remission for Independence Day. He urged all inmates to always obey the rules and show good behavior to meet both administrative and substantive criteria to receive the sentence reduction.
